Improvement in sewing-machines



C, P, St JOHN 2Sheets--Sheet1. Sewing-Machine.

No. 205,922. Patented July 9,1878.

MPEIERSv PHOTO-LXTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. P. St. JOHN. fiewing No. 205,922. Patented July 9,1878.

J22 as 22227":

N- PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHSNGTDN. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

CHARLES'P. ST. JOHN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OIIIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,922, dated July 9,187$; application filed April 24, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. ST. J can, of Springfield, in the countyof Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention consists, in part, in connecting the drit'ing-wheel withits shaft by means of a spring-pin on the shaft engaging with a notch inthe wheel-hub, or vice versa, said notch having one oblique face and onesquare face, so that the wheel may turn freely without the shaft in onedirection, but when turned in the other direction will rotate the shaft,the said connecting-pin being connected to a sliding rod, which may bepressed in by the finger and locked out of gear with the wheel,permitting the latter to turn freely without the shaft, when desired,for winding the bobbin.

The invention further relates to a feed-movement consisting of anoperating-lever actuated by an eccentric, and carrying a wedgeshapedtappet adjustable endwise on saidlever, in order to regulate the lengthof stitches, as hereinafter described.

In the accompany-in g drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinalsection of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 3is a front view of the head, with the needle-bar and presser. Fig. 4 isa horizontal section of the needle-clamp on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a plan view of a portion of the driving-shaft, with clutch applied.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 6 6, Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the hub of the driving-wheel. Fig. 8is a perspective view of the feed mechanism. Fig. 9 is a side elevationof the feed-plates.

The arm A, bed or table B, and other parts not herein specificallydescribed may be of usual construction.

I prefer to employ a hollow arm and standard, as shown, to contain andconceal the main drivin g-shaft C an d the vertical shaft D, which isgeared to the shaft 0 by bevel pinions E F. The forward end of thedriving-shaft carries the customary crank-wheel G, working within thehollow head H of the machine, and imparting reciprocating verticalmovement to the needle-bar I through the medium of a slotted cross head,J, attached thereto. A pin, K, projecting horizontally from thecross-head J through the face of the head II, operates the take-up L.

The shank of the needle N has a boss, 11, and fits within a groove orcavity prepared for it in the face of the needle-bar, and is secured bythe clampring M and screw 0.

The rear end of the shaft 0 is formed with a journal, 0, for thereception ofthe hand-wheel or band-wheel l, which is secured thereon bya key-plate, p, on the wheel engaging in a circumferential groove orgland, 0, near the end of the shaft. This device will be seen to permitthe rotation ofthe wheel on the shaft, while preventing its slippingoff.

To communicate rotary motion from the wheel to the shaft when the wheelis turned forward, I employ a ratchet-movement, consisting of a pin, q,projecting radially from a longitudinal rod, Q, which is fitted to slidewithin an axial cavity in the end of the shaft 0, and is pressed outwardby spring, q. On the extremity of the rod Q is a knob, q for the purposeof manipulating it. The pin q works in a longitudinal slot, 0 in theshaft, and, by slightly turning the rod when it is pressed back to thefarthest extent, is engaged in a transverse notch, 0 at the extremity ofsaid slot, so as to prevent the pin engaging with the wheel-hub. Thehand-wheel P is then free to turn on the shaft, as may be necessary forwinding bobbins, or for running a needlesharpener, or for any otherpurpose.

When the pin q is released from the notch 0 the spring q presses the rodoutward until the pin q reaches the other extremity of the slot 0 andengages with a notch, p 19 in the hub of the wheel P. This notch will beseen to have one straight longitudinal face, 12, and one oblique face,11 so that when the wheel is turned forward the face 19 engaging withthe pin q, imparts motion to the shaft 0; but when it is turned backwardthe oblique face 12 slips on the pin, which retires before it, allowingthe wheel to turn freely on the shaft, and slipping into the notch 10 pat each rotation, after the manner of a ratchet-movement.

On the lower end of the vertical shaft D are keyed a crank, R, and aneccentric, T. The

crank R imparts a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the shuttle b bymeans of the connecting-rod ll and shuttle-carrier S.

The eccentric T imparts a transverse reciprocating motion to theiced-lever U on its fulcrum 11. To regulate the length of stitch, aslide, 17', is applied to the top of the lever U, with a wedge-shapedhead, 11, adapted to move the feed-plates V V to a greater or lessextent, as the said wedge-shaped head is moved forward or backward. Itsadjustment is effected by means of a connecting-bar, U and a screwstud,a, located conveniently above the plate or table ll, and serving to fixthe slide in any position to which it may be adjusted.

The feed-lever l' and the wedge-shaped head connected therewith operatebetween the downwardly projecting rigid jaws 1" r of a plate, V,carrying the feed-head \V, the surface of which is roughened incustomary manner. The alternate elevation and depression of the head \Vare ett'ected by a second plate, Y, piw oted atv to a stationary point,and formed with an oblique shoulder, r, with which the feed-lever Ucomes in contact, so as to raise the free end of the plate Y. i

The two plates V Y are connected by pins .r .r working in slots .1" .r',so as to communicate the vertical motion of the plate V to the plate V,and thus throw up the feed-head W, while permitting the independenthorizontal motion of the plate V, by which the feed-motion is imparted.The elevation of the feed is regulated by the endwise adjustment of theplate Z, on the beveled end of which the similarly-beveled end of thefeed-lever U rests.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The lock-bolt Q, provided with a pin or lug, q, and pressed out by aspring, q, in combination with the wheel P, recessed as shown, and withthe shaft 0, formed with longitudinal and lateral slots 0 0 to cause thebolt to engage with the wheel or admit of retaining it in retractedposition, when desired.

:2. The combination of the feed-lever If and the slide U provided with awedge-shaped head, 21', adjustable on said feed-lever to rep;- ulate thelength of stitch by means of a connecting-bar, I, and screwstud u, asdescribed.

(l. l. ST. JOHN.

\Yitncsses:

IRA W. WALL/ten, l. l. MARTIN.

